Showing posts with label hobby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hobby. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

I always sleep so well ..

... at Ian and Kathy's in Somerset West !!!!! :)

When my Mum first went into the Old Aged Home several years ago, my visits consisted of spending the entire day with her .. taking her to teas, coffees, lunches ... more teas, coffees, lunches .... at many of the picturesque wine estates, gardens, beaches, tea\coffee rooms all in that area of the Cape. I used to go back to their house exhausted ... chat until wee hours .. then fall into bed at night ... and sleeeeeppp !!! I was always exhausted ... mainly mentally !!!

Now that my Mum can no longer go 'out and about' and my visits to her can only last a maximum of an hour at a time .... the rest of my time is spent ... not lazing on my brother's fine deck overlooking the entire False Bay ... no ... no ... no !!!!

I am kept very busy !!!! :) I love it actually !!!

Last week, I was only there for one night and two days .... Kathy and I seem to be on the go the whole time ... had a tyre repaired at the 'tyre repair place', tried to sort a stove that wouldn't fit into their apartment which is occupied by a tenant .... no matter what .. it just wouldn't fit ! ... so we had to take it back .... do exchanges etc ... etc ... :) In the middle of getting a quick bite to eat ... nooo leisurely lunch with a glass of wine here !! ... her phone rang and we were off again ... to do another errand !!! :) :)

I visited Mum while Kathy went to a 'beading session'. As we had to share her car, I dropped her off at her friends home .. and what a beautiful home !!!! .. perched on the side of a mountain with views forever .. or so they said ... could only see smoke that day, unfortunately, as there were devastating mountain fires in the Franschhoek region.

When I got back to collect her, I stayed for a cup of tea and marvelled once again at the intricate detail that goes into beading !! I sat with a group of 'beaders' the last time I was there and was totally mesmerised by the exquisite jewellery they were threading together ...

Kathy's friend, S, pulled out some boxes for me to peek inside ... Christmas decorations which adorned her entire Christmas tree over the Festive Season ... oh wow ... they are amazing !!!


Little teeny tiny angels, stars, and even little Christmas crackers ..

... snow flakes that twinkle held against the light .... can imagine them with all the Christmas lights on a tree .... twinkling and sparkling ... !!!


A box filled with Christmas ballies covered in intricately beaded designs which dangled and caught the light like tiny chandeliers ...


Christmas ballies ... with air inside .. no filling .. just air ... made entirely of shiny beads ... and I might add ... perfectly round !!!!

Little wreaths and danglies ...


.. different sizes of angels with pretty wings and skirts ... one was all frilly ... (it's the way the beads are put together that makes the frills, I was told !!!) ... absolutely fascinating !!!



.. and look at this fine chap .... sparklingly perfectly round body and head !!! ... keeping warm with scarf and fancy hat ... love his 'carrot' nose !!!! There are even tassles at the end of his scarf!!

Oh .. these are clever ladies indeed !!!! Thank you, S, for the tea and an insight into your amazing craft!!

Now ... off to make a cake for Connor's birthday !!!! He has asked me to make a 'Granny's Speciality' ... !! Can't believe he's three already .. seems like the other day he was in NICU after his birth !!!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Weekly Winners : Birthdays and more ...

Gosh .. it's been a busy weekend and only now have the chance to put these up ... !!!! (Monday)

Reflecting on the past week ....



... which started with my birthday on Sunday .... was spoilt by my children .... hubby gave me this exquisite 'Carrol Boyes' candle holder .... isn't he gorgeous .. holding up the 'world' with those strong hands ...


... we then flew down to Cape Town ... (actually we flew SAA but couldn't resist taking a photo of this Kulula plane taxiing down the runway - all their planes have funky paintwork and advertising) ....

Soothing sounds of a harp wafted around the foyer of the hotel ....


.. which is not far from the V&A Waterfront ... our hotel is just off the photo to the right ..


... Victoria and Alfred Waterfront - named after Queen Victoria and her second son, Prince Alfred who started construction of the harbour in 1860 ...



.. and forms part of ... the tourist/shops/foodies part of the harbour ... with beautiful Table Mountain as it's backdrop ...


.. and where the statues of Nobel Peace Prize Winners ... from left to right ... Chief Albert Luthuli, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mr F.W. de Klerk, and Mr Nelson Mandela .... stand proud ..


... anyone for ice cream ? .... quick .. it's melting in the heat !!!

... ooooh yesss .... a cool 'dude' seal ...


.. as the sun sets, the sunset cruises return to port ...



Whilst hubby was at the conference, I spent some family time in Somerset West ....
.. and while Kathy went to beading ... exquisite jewellery she makes too !! I am in awe !!! ...

.. anyway .. while she went to beading .. I spent some time with my Mum. She is looking well although very thin. She knew me. Always breaks my heart when I say goodbye ... she may not know me next time ..

Hubby joined us for a superb meal at 'Daniella's restaurant' (she is one of the manager's there) .... 96 Winery Road, in Stellenbosch .. Kathy, Ian, Daniella, me and hubby

... ooooh lookie here ... exciting stuff on their menu ... !!!! ...
... and an intriguing box on the mantel ... !!!

Not a moment to waste ... wine tasting at Asara ... mm .. mmm !!! all excellent wines !!


... and delicious Tapas with more family ... oh yummy .. yes .. very yummmm ..


... overlooking the lake and Stellenbosch Mountains ... (I've been there before with Ian and Kathy and taken photos .. so if it looks familiar to some bloggers .. it is !!!) But just had to share it with hubby, Cheryl and Bob (who had not been there yet) ..


Coffee with a view .... at the Twelve Apostles Hotel

.. and a seagull ..

Au revoir ... 'til we meet again ..

Back home ...
... on Saturday was Connor's 3rd birthday party .... and all our three children were there ... in the same spot .... at the same time .... we all live here .. but it's very rare that they are altogether at the same time .... photo opportunity !!!!


Happy Birthday Connor !!!!


Fun waterslide for all the littlies ... and some biggies!!! Jeanette has more photos ... check them out ... they are far nicer than mine could ever be ... !!!




More Weekly Winners are on Lotus' blog